Two weeks after downing Nazareth 41-28 in the program’s biggest regular season win in the EPC area, the Northampton football team descended upon Andrew S Leh Stadium with the hopes of duplicating the feat in the District XI 6A playoffs.

Sophomore Chase Kessler set the tone early by dashing 73 yards on the first play of the game, setting up a 1-yard touchdown plunge three plays later.

The Konkrete Kids led by as much 20-10 in the first half after scoring touchdowns on three of the first four drives, but the Blue Eagles defended their home turf on the way to a 37-36 win.

The game changed on four possessions sandwiched around the halftime break. The Kids missed had a 32-yard field goal blocked just before the half with a chance to expand on their 20-13 lead.

Nazareth scored on the opening drive of the second half, but Dom Barkanic blocked the PAT to the keep the K-Kids in up 20-19.

Northampton’s next possession saw them get down to the Blue Eagles’ 29 thanks in large part to a 40-yard run by quarterback Gavin Taff, but they were unable to capitalize.

Perhaps the biggest momentum swing of the game happened the next time Nazareth had the ball. The Kids’ defense forced the Blue Eagles into a third and 14 from near midfield. A deep Cooper Madson heave landed harmlessly on the turf, but elation turned to chagrin for the Northampton faithful as a penalty for pass interference gave the Nazareth a first down.

The Blue Eagles cashed in on the break to take their first lead of the game 27-20 after a 5-yard run by Marquez Wimberly and the ensuing 2-point conversion.

The consensus from the press box looking at the replay was that any infraction was not very egregious and the referee would have been better served keeping the yellow laundry in his pocket.

Head coach John Toman was less diplomatic in his assessment, “Yeah, that was a terrible call. I’ve never heard of what he thought he saw, but obviously we’d get the ball back after them punting in that spot. I know they say officiating’s hard, but coaching’s hard too, especially when you get calls like that.”

Nazareth scored again after forcing the Kids to go three-and-out to go up 34-20.

The Kids battled back, exchanging a pair of touchdowns for a Blue Eagles’ field goal to make the score 37-34 with 1:57 left.

The blustery conditions forced the Kids to use a holder on the onside attempt. Another referee’s decision that Toman disputed forced Northampton to move a player to the opposite side of the ball and the already unlikely onside kick was doomed.

Nazareth ran out the clock on four straight runs, including taking a 48-yard loss for a safety on the game’s final play.

Toman summed up the game, “We belonged here. We had opportunities to win the game. We had opportunities to win a lot of games this year. We just came up a little short. I couldn’t be prouder of the fight. They never give up. These kids never give up, they keep fighting.”

N’hmpton 7 13 0 16 - 36

Nazareth 3 10 6 18 - 37

Northampton Rushing (att-yds): Kessler 15-155 3TD, Spencer 9-70, Taff 8-56 TD, Rickert 9-39 TD, Barkanic 2-10

Northampton Passing (comp-att-int): Taff 6-11-0 95 yards

Northampton Receiving (rec-yds): Wadlington 2-68, High 1-10, Strowder 1-8, Hersch 1-6, Rickert 1-3